The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-05-15
LOSS OF OTHER VALUABLE PROP
ERTY BARELY AVERTED.
Verdict for $1,000 Damages
Against the Times-UniOn.
Spee ialtO The PuLnflea Nelns.

ing, the Park Opera House was swept up
like tinder box by swift, raging fire.
So rapidly did it spread and do its COM
plete work of destruction, that the entire
bnilding, from pit to dome, was one
seething, solid mass of flame even before
the first alarm was turned on. The fire
companies responded with instant action,
and in a few moments were pouring six
or eight streams upon the lurid mass
and, as the sequel proved, did splendid
work in saying valuable property.
The opera house was situated on the
southeast corner of Laura and Duval
streets in a thickly settled section of the
city, and when the people that poured out
from their midnight slumbers beheld the
great headway the flames had gained,
the expressions of terror and regret were
heard ON every side. Just across the
street, on the northeast corner, stood the
elegant Oxford Flats, while diagonally
across on the northwest corner the splen-
did st. James, the wood work and cor
nices of each already warping and shrink
ing under volumes of that soft white
smoke that bespeaks the early bursting
of the flames. The st. James fire brigade
soon turned on their private hose and
and the slight breeze that was blowing
seemed just here to shift to the south
east, and these fine and popular hotels
were saved.
Just to the rear of the opera house.
eastward, stood the two-suory residence
of Col. JnO. 7. Walker. The flames
soon caught here and spread to the SINH
lar residence of Mr.. Columbus Drew and
Dr. Drew on the south. Here it was
that the gallant firemen got i'm some
splendid work and fought the ferocious
flames at every step. Hardly longer
time than it takes to tell the story the
opera house was bank of blackened,
sniouldering ashes, while Col. Walkers
house was badly gutted and the Messrs.
Drew saved with much less damage
Praises for the brave firemen's work
were on every lip and the fire was out
THE OPERA HOUSES HISTORY.
The opera house was a large frame
building, built some five years ago, used
first as skating rink and then several
times remodeled for an opera house. 1t
was well staged and furnished only last
year with iron folding opera chairs. Its
seating capacity was 100.
1t was owned by stock company
composed of j. w. Archibald, President;
A. b. Campbell, Secretary;J. C. Greeley,
Treasurer, and John q. Burbridge, with
Mr.. j. ID. Burbridge as manager. Its
estimated value was $4,000. The in
suSance was $1,000. Manager Burbridge
states that the company will commence
to rebuild at once a handsome brick
house with enlarged capacity.
DAMAGE To OTHER BUILDINGS.
The damage to the st. James was
probably $500, mostly by water; to the
Oxford flats, 81 900, both insured; Jno.
I. Walkers. residence, $4,000, covered
by insurance, loss to furniture and
household goods, 81 900, no insurance.
Frame one-story house ON Laura street,
occupied by Carl Iatzke, tailor, and f.
Vaissene, shoemaker, loss on building
and stock, 900, partly insured. Udall,
curiosity and fancy goods dealer, occu-
pied the northwest corner of the build
ing, with n stock valued at $6,5OO, in
snred for $500. He saved none of his
goods. The fire originated in the rear
portion of this store and it's origin is un-
known. Some incline to the theory of
incendiarism.
THE SUB-TROPICAL EXPOSITION.
The prompt passage by both houses of
h. n la. <Nf Il. Sy..I "
position charter. is looked upon here
with much satisf action by the friends of
the grand undertaking. and it is as con-
fidently believed that that body will be
Just as ready to grant the State aid to be
asked in behalf of all the counties in the
State. The movement i'm favor of this
great undertaking for Florida's benefit,
is universally popular and is going for
word with a momentum that pressages
grand success. Let every man, woman
and child that feels an interest in the
State lend a helping hand.
DID NOT WANT To PROSECUTE.
Chas. V. Harris. white, who was ar
rested in Savannah, Ga, ON Monday last.
ON the charge of having robbed his land
lady, Mrs. Annie w. Laidlaw, proprie-
tress of the Mayfiower House, of this
city, of some $40 in money, pistol and
gold ring, valued 1t about $50, was up
before Justice Belissario yesterday morn
ing.
To the surprise of the Court and the
assembled spectators the amiable widow
testified that she guessed Harris did not
steal her money, as she and her daughter.
while moving a bureau, this morning,
had found the amount in a pocket book
behind that piece of furniture, where it
had evidently fallen. She further said
that she had given Harris the ring and
pistol The former statements of Mrs.
Laillaw To Sheriff Holland. on his re-
turn from Savannah, did not at all coin
eide with her later testimony, nor with
house.
Justice Belisario. after hearing all the
evidence, thought he'd better lock Har-
ris up ION general principles" and give
him good chance to be sifted by the
grand jury now in session. In default
of 500 bail Harris again languished in
durance vile.
1t will be remembered that when ar
rested in Savannah, Harris, who is
rather prepossessing in appearance and
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